Gang, including Crystal Palace man, jailed for dark web drug dealing

A gang of prolific drug dealers, including a man from Crystal Palace, who operated on the dark web have been jailed.

The sentencing marks the end of an extensive investigation that began three years ago.

James Buckett, 35, from Eldon Road, Caterham, was sentenced to nine years behind bars for his role in the elaborate drug operation.

Buckett had been running a dark web shop since 2019, selling a range of class A drugs, including cocaine, LSD, cannabis, and pharmaceutical products, to international customers.

He sourced the drugs himself through the dark web and had them sent to the homes of his associates.

One of these shops was purchased from Joseph Strachan, 32, of Cintra Park, Crystal Palace, Bromley, who was also involved in supplying drugs.

Unlike his colleagues, Strachan did not plead guilty and was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and diazepam.

He received a two-year suspended sentence after appearing in court on July 3.

Alfie Petherick, 28, from Stafford Road, Caterham, worked alongside Buckett, dividing the drug parcels into smaller packages and distributing them to destinations around the world, including France, Canada, the USA, and Germany.

Craig Norton, 32, from Longridge Avenue, Saltdean, worked as a drugs runner for hire, delivering drugs for several dealers, including Buckett.

Buckett first caught the attention of the police in February 2019 when a parcel addressed to him from the Netherlands was intercepted by the Heathrow Border Force.

Inside the sealed white padded envelope was a gold-coloured package containing 60.4 grams of MDMA.

In June of the same year, Buckett moved into a property in South Croydon.

When he failed to pay the rent, his landlord forced entry and discovered drugs, drug paraphernalia, and handwritten notes describing his plans for the drug empire.

On July 29, 2020, Buckett was arrested on a boat in Brighton Marina, which he was using as a base for his drug business.

He was initially arrested on suspicion of importing drugs and later arrested for conspiring with Petherick and Norton to supply drugs.

He also faced charges of possessing cannabis, possessing criminal property, and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Norton and Petherick were also arrested on July 30, 2020, on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Strachan was arrested on August 13, 2020, for the same offense.

James Buckett pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply MDMA, cocaine, cannabis, and diazepam and was sentenced to nine years imprisonment.

Concurrently, he received sentences for conspiring to supply cannabis and diazepam, both class B and class C offenses.

Alfie Petherick pleaded guilty to the same charges and received a four and a half year prison sentence, also to be served concurrently with class B and class C offenses.

Craig Norton pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine and was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.

Joseph Strachan, found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and diazepam, received a two-year suspended sentence.

Detective Constable Phil Potter, from Surrey Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: “These sentences are part of our continued effort into dismantling the organised crime networks within Surrey.

“An extensive investigation, which included reviewing phone data, has ensured these men were brought to justice.

“All four were part of a sophisticated network of drugs supply which stretched across the world. We urge anyone who has information regarding the supply or use of drugs in their local area to report it to us.”